Crescents

[Linky Lee]

I've got one problem on my Hanson and that is that Eb and D play really flat. They both use the C key quite extensively for intonation.
at the moment I have my C and Eb key set up so that they can't possibly go any higher, giving the sharpest pitch possible to those notes.
They're still flat in comparison to the others, but just about boderline. The problem is having the keys like this makes it awfully hard to play down there, especially a C to Eb or vice versa change.

I heard of crescents a long time ago and didn't think much of them and there doesn't seem to be too much on the web about them.

I understand that you basically stick some material inside the tone hole to effectively change it's position. So it came to me that if I could effectively raise the tone hole to make it sharp enough, I could lower the key heights to a comfortable position.

I've only ever seen pictures of crescents on the top of tone holes though, which would lower the pitch. I'm not too sure about this but can they be used on the bottom to raise the pitch?

If not is there any other way of doing this?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Crescents can work on a saxophone that is badly out of tune. This shouldn't be the case with your hanson, so really you should contact hanson and see what they can do.

 

[Linky Lee]

I have, and it's been improved drastically. It's all fine excluding those two notes. Which I must say are reasonably in tune, but at the expense of playability.

 

[rhysonsax]

A bit of information in this previous BreakfastRoom thread:
http://www.breakfastroom.co.uk/index.cgi?fid=06&topic_id=1170519782

I did the crescent thing on my "The Martin" baritone and it worked a treat. But I'm surprised that it should be necessary on a decent modern horn.

Rhys

 

[Linky Lee]

Cheers! I knew there was a thread on them, but I searched and searched and couldn't find it.

I'm going to go play a few other altos and see what they're like. I've only ever really checked intonation on a few Hanson altos. The Martin has never been in a condition for me to check. It may be it's a problem I have on the alto. I just don't have it on the tenor or soprano. Maybe it could be a pitching thing, me not liking Eb instruments or something?

 

[chris_j]

Linky

Are they flat, irrespective of mouthpiece? It can be surprising how internal characteristics of different mouthpieces can affect intonation. A better man than me might say how and why, though.


Click here for an article on crescents, for interest

Chris

 

[Linky Lee]

Hi Chris, yes they are flat irrespective of mouthpiece.
The otto link that I'm using actually gives me the best intonation from all the mouthpieces I've tried.

It brought the flat notes slightly sharper and the sharp notes slightly flatter, making quite a good impact all over the entire range.

As I say I haven't had occasion to see what my intonation on other altos is like so I don't know if it's a thing I do or not. I need to check that out, but I'm hoping not and thinking not as I don't have any intonation troubles on any of my other saxes, tenor or soprano.